It was sweet for Cech, who has suffered heartbreak for Chelsea since joining in 2004, including seeing Barcelona go through with a goal in stoppage-time in the last four in 2009, and, of course, being on the losing side in a penalty shoot-out in the final against Manchester United the year before.

Asked if it could be their destiny to defy all the odds and win the trophy this year, the Czech Republic star – who turns 30 the day after the final in Munich on May 19 – said: “Maybe. It’s why everyone loves football because things happen which you just cannot explain.

“

Your season looks to be in trouble, then you have an amazing run in the Champions League.

“In 2008 we lost on penalties. It was heartbreaking. Now we have another chance. Look at what we’ve been through to get this chance.

“We were 3-1 down to Napoli. We won in Benfica. No-one from outside believed we could make it past Barcelona. Even after we won the first leg no-one believed.

“We have just beaten the best team in the world. Now we believe anything is possible. You always have to have belief and we believe.

“For all the last seven years we haven’t had any luck in the Champions League. Now we are having some luck.

“We are searching for some luck as well and it’s been unbelievable what we’ve done to get to the final.”

Superstition states that many years of bad luck stems from breaking a mirror, but the west Londoners now seem to be on the crest of a Euro wave. Even having skipper John Terry sent off in the 37th minute could not stop them.

And although goal hero Ramires, Branislav Ivanovic and Raul Meireles picked up bookings which will keep them out of the final, Didier Drogba has a chance of redemption in Munich.

In 2008 the striker was sent off for slapping Nemanja Vidic in stoppage-time in a game which ended 1-1 but saw United prevail 6-5 on penalties, with Terry slipping before missing the spot-kick which would have won Chelsea the trophy.

“I think everyone deserves a second chance,” said Drogba, who will be playing his last game for the Blues in Munich as he has signed up to join mega-rich Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua this summer.

“I don’t know if it will be mine. After the final, I faced a lot of criticism, but that’s football and I understand that and it helped me to grow up a little bit more.”

Drogba, 34, was also attacked for time-wasting, particularly in the first leg.

“I know some people don’t like Chelsea, but that’s football,” he added.

“You cannot be loved by everyone and we are in the final, but that is not a revenge against anyone. I am just happy for the club and for the team.”

The final could also offer another chance for Fernando Torres to prove Chelsea were not mad to pay £50m for him.

Having replaced Drogba in Spain, he claimed a breakaway goal in stoppage-time to cap a magnificent night for the club.

Frank Lampard, who will skipper Chelsea in the final, said: “When he ran clear, you knew the outcome and that’s what you get from the best.

“I hope it can kick-start him for the final.”

Torres, who scored seven times in 10 games for Atletico Madrid against Barca, said: “I was not expecting to have any chances.

“I was playing almost as a left-back.

“The only chance we could have was on the counter-attack like this.

“One more goal against Barcelona.

“I have nice memories of the stadium, nice memories against them.

“But this goal is more special than any one before because it helped us to go to the final.”